How With WOW: change a tyre
Many of our worst driving nightmares involve a flat tyre. This stems from multiple reasons, though the main would be not actually knowing how to change a tyre. Murphy and his law normally play a role in these events, either you’re unable to call roadside assistance because your cell battery is flat, or it just so happens you’re on the one road that has no reception.
Many people incorrectly assume that changing a tyre on an SUV is more difficult than a small hatch – that’s a myth. We’ve demonstrated how to change a tyre on the new Volkswagen T-Cross small SUV, and given that the person in the demonstration thinks Gym is someone’s name and not a fitness facility, we’ve figured that if she can wrangle a tyre we are certain the majority could.
With this simple how-to list, you will be a pro in no time. Make sure you screengrab or save this video and article, keep it in an accessible place on your phone (where you won’t need cell reception to access) and share it with friends, you never know when you’ll need it.
To start your vehicle should come with a spare tyre, wheel spanner and a jack. Regularly check the spare tyre’s air pressure to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended PSI before going on a road trip or carrying an extra load.
YOUR ‘HOW TO CHANGE A TYRE’ STEP BY STEP:
1. Find a safe location with level ground as soon as you realise that you have a flat tyre, do not brake or turn abruptly.
2. Turn on your hazards to help other drivers see you on the side of the road.
3. Make sure the handbrake is up to avoid the vehicle from rolling. Remove spare and push it under the vehicle; this is a precautionary if the jack faults.
4. Loosen the wheel nuts using the wheel spanner; turn counter-clockwise (remember righty-tighty, lefty-loosey) about a quarter or half of a turn. Do not remove them completely until the car is jacked up and it’s time to remove the flat tyre. You may need to use gentle force, use your foot if necessary.
5. Look for the symbol of an upside-down triangle; this is the correct place to slot the jack under the vehicle. Beneath this symbol is a cleared area of exposed metal for the jack to safely lift and avoid damage to the vehicle.
6. With the jack properly positioned, raise the vehicle until the flat tyre is about five to six centimetres off the ground. Never put any part of your body under the vehicle during or after raising.
7. Remove the wheel nuts all the way and remove the flat wheel.
8. Place the spare wheel on the wheel hub – lining it up with the bolt holes so that they show through the rim.
9. Put the wheel nuts back on and tighten them all the way by hand, once they are all on, check the tightness again.
10. Use the jack to lower the vehicle so the spare tyre is resting on the ground but the full weight of the vehicle isn’t fully on the tyre. Tighten the wheel nuts clockwise (righty-tighty) as tightly as you can using the wheel spanner. Push down on the wheel spanner using your body weight.
11. Lower the vehicle all the way to the ground and ensure the wheel nuts are as tight as possible using the wheel spanner.
12. Ensure your spare tyre has enough inflation to drive the rest of your journey, if not – drive to the nearest service station immediately.
Volkswagen offers 24-hour road assistance, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for all VW customers.
This post is sponsored
-END-